Occupational safety and health check-list for hazard control in the design and operation of a plant or process

• Pages: 35-45

A. Occupational safety and health check-list for hazard control in

the design and operation of a plant or process

The check-list given below is intended for the use of ILO 4member States, both as

technology-exporting and technology-receiving countries. It provides detailed information on

many of the practical measures having a bearing on occupational safety and health that should

be taken in designing, constructing and operating a technology transfer, especially measures not

covered in other ILO codes of practice (see Appendix B). This check-list covers not only large

plants and processes, but will also be found applicable to many smaller installations. However,

it is not exhaustive. It should therefore not be regarded as covering, in their entirety, all of the

occupational safety and health matters that should be taken into account.

A.1. Properties of substances used in the process, plant or factory

A.1.1. Attention should be paid to the substances used or liable to be produced during

processes.

A.1.2. Work processes should as far as possible be designed so that dangerous gases,

vapours or suspended particles are not released and so that workers do not come into skin

contact with hazardous solid or liquid substances or their preparations. If this is not technically

possible, the substances should be collected and removed in a safe manner, or technically

feasible ventilation measures should be taken.

A.1.3. Before a plant involving a chemical process is designed, consideration should

be given, among other things, to the properties of –

(a) the substances to be processed or produced, as well as intermediate products and by-

products;

(b) any catalysts used;

(c) substances that may be produced under abnormal process conditions.

A.1.3.1. Consideration of the chemical properties should cover –

(a) chemical reactivity such as oxidation and reduction by contact with water, air, oxygen,

steam or the materials of which the plant is constructed;

(b) fire and explosion risks with reference to particle size, flashpoint, ignition temperature,

explosion limits and auto-ignition of flammable materials.

A.1.3.2. Consideration of the physical properties should cover –

(a) liquids: solubility, viscosity, density, surface tension and critical temperatures;

(b) solids: particle size, minimum explosive concentration, generation of electrostatic

charges, expansion coefficient and solubility in liquids;

(c) gases: density, critical temperature, generation of electrostatic charges, expansion

coefficient and solubility in water and other liquids.

A.1.4. The toxicity of substances should be considered and the relevant health

standards consulted.

A.1.5. Particular attention should be paid to very fine dust and to radioactivity as both

are invisible to the naked eye and can cause serious damage to the body, and also to odourless

and colourless gases.

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